Communication apparatus, and method and program for controlling the same

ABSTRACT

To update phone book data (identification information necessary for connection to one&#39;s own apparatus stored in communication partner information storing means of a communication partner) of a communication apparatus easily, inexpensively, quickly, and reliably.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a communication apparatus whichincludes a communication partner information storing means for storingidentification information for establishing a connection with acommunication partner, and a method and a program for controlling thesame.

BACKGROUND ART

In a phone terminal having a phone book connected to a general publicline, there have conventionally been proposed methods of notifyingchanged contents of one's own phone number through an electronic mailmessage to a partner so as to execute phone book data updating work, andanalyzing the contents of the mail message on partner's phone terminalside to automatically update the phone book data (Japanese PatentApplication Laid-open No. 2003-108481 and Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-open No. 2003-108482).

Recently, there is known a technology of carrying out voice (or evenimage) communication not only by a phone terminal connected to thegeneral public line but also by an Internet phone (VoIP) system has beenknown. It is believed that the automatic updating of the phone book datathrough an electronic mail message as described above can be alsocarried out by an IP phone terminal connected to an IP network.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

However, a method of updating identification information necessary forconnection to one's own apparatus stored by a communication partner isperformed through electronic mail as in the case of those described inthe above Patent Documents. Thus, there is no way to check whether thepartner has surely received a message of phone book updating, resultingin a problem in that non-receipt of the electronic mail message is notrealized or is realized only at a later time when an electronic mailaddress of the partner has been changed or the like.

To receive the electronic mail by connecting to the public line, it isnecessary to access an electronic mail server different from that ofnormal phone communication from a phone terminal side, causing a problemin that automatic updating of the phone book is suspended until theaccess is performed.

Furthermore, there is a problem in that an electronic mailtransmitting/receiving function which may not be necessary depending onproduct specifications must be implemented on the phone terminal side.

With the aforementioned problems in mind, an object of the presentinvention is to update identification information necessary forconnection to one's own apparatus stored by a communication partnereasily, inexpensively, quickly, and reliably.

In order to solve the above problems, in a communication apparatus whichincludes a communication partner information storing means for storingidentification information to establish a connection to a communicationpartner, and a method and a program for controlling the communicationapparatus, the present invention employs such a configuration that: afirst communication apparatus stores control information regardingidentification information for establishing a connection between asecond communication apparatus and the first communication apparatus inan SIP message and transmits the SIP message to the second communicationapparatus; and the second communication apparatus that has received theSIP message updates identification information regarding the firstcommunication apparatus based on the control information stored in theSIP message, the identification information being stored in the storingmeans of the second communication apparatus.

With this configuration, when a user moves or changes his provider, theSIP message containing the control information regarding theidentification information (phone number, IP address, UPI, or the like)for establishing the connection to one's own apparatus can betransmitted. Thus, it is possible to update the identificationinformation stored in the communication partner information storingmeans of the communication partner easily, inexpensively, quickly, andreliably.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an IP phone unitemploying the present invention, particularly a configuration needed bya side which transmits a notification of a user information change or anupdating command of user information.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the IP phone unitemploying the present invention, particularly a configuration needed bya side which receives the notification of the user information change orthe updating command of the user information.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a network environment in whichthe IP phone unit employing the present invention is operable.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a phone book data structure ofthe IP phone unit employing the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing structures of new and oldpieces of user information stored in the IP phone unit employing thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a sequence of IP phonecommunication carried out by the IP phone unit using an SIP server.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a structural example of an SIPmessage transmitted/received in the sequence of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a sequence of IP phonecommunication directly carried out by the IP phone device without usingthe SIP server.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a transmitting/receivingsequence of the user information updating command by the IP phone unitemploying the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a structural example of an SIPmessage containing a MESSAGE method of the user information updatingcommand of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a structural example of theSIP message (OK) of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a correspondence between a URIand an IP address stored by an SIP server 305.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a communication control sequence executedon an arrival side of the user information updating command.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a communication control sequence executedon a transmission side of the user information updating command.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a communication control sequence executedon a reception side of the user information updating command.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a structural example of an SIPmessage exchanged not via the SIP server.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a structural example of phonebook data before updating.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a structural example of phonebook data after updating.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment regarding an IP phone unit connected to an IPnetwork and including a phone book to enable a user to register anoptional phone partner therein will be described. According to theembodiment below, a change of one's own phone number or an SIP address(SIP URI) is notified to a partner apparatus registered in a phone bookof one's own apparatus to automatically update phone book data of thepartner apparatus.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 shows a structure of an IP phone unit 101 of the presentinvention. FIG. 1 shows a configuration needed by an apparatus of a sidewhich transmits the notification of a change of user information such asa phone number, a URI or an IP address which results from, for example,a removal or provider changing, or an updating command of the userinformation.

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes the entire IP phoneunit, 102 denotes an internal bus for transferring internal data of theIP phone unit 101, 103 denotes a CPU for controlling the IP phone unit101, 104 denotes a RAM for providing a program working area of the CPU103, and 105 denotes a ROM for storing a program or table data of theCPU 103.

Further, reference numeral 106 denotes a network unit for transferringdata with the outside of the IP phone unit 101, 107 denotes an oldinformation storing unit for storing information on a former phonenumber or the like of the IP phone unit 101, 108 denotes a newinformation storing unit for storing information on a new phone numberor the like of the IP phone unit 101, and 109 denotes a partnerinformation storing unit for storing information on a phone number orthe like of a partner of speech communication executed by using the IPphone unit 101.

Reference numeral 110 denotes an IP phone connection unit fortransmitting/receiving an SIP message between the IP phone unit 101 andan outside SIP server or an outside IP phone unit by using the networkunit 106 to establish communication. The IP phone connection unit 110transmits/receives the SIP message with the outside SIP server or theoutside IP phone unit by using a connection on a TCP (UDP)/IP secured bythe network unit 106.

Reference numeral 111 denotes an information retrieval unit forretrieving a phone number or the like stored in the partner informationstoring unit 109, 112 denotes a user storing unit for storing such asname information of the IP phone user 101, and 113 denotes an operationunit for instructing a partner stored in the partner information storingunit 109 to transmit update processing of one's own phone number. Theoperation unit 113 is configured as an operation panel which includes akeyboard, a display unit, and the like of the device.

Reference numeral 114 denotes a calling unit for calling a user of theIP phone unit 101, 115 denotes a handset detection unit for detectingwhether a handset is hooked up or not, and 116 denotes a speechcommunication unit for executing speech communication by an IP phone,which includes a transmitter/receiver or other necessary voiceinput/output units.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a structure of the IP phone unit ofthe present invention. FIG. 2 shows a configuration needed by anapparatus of a side which receives a notification of a change of userinformation on a phone number, a URI, or an IP address which resultsfrom a removal or provider changing, or an updating command of the userinformation from the IP phone unit of FIG. 1.

Note that the phone unit of this type is usually constructed as aproduct in which the configurations of FIGS. 1 and 2 are integrated. Inthis case, needless to say, members of FIG. 2 similar to those of FIG. 1denoted by reference numerals 100's (similar in configuration to thoseof FIG. 1 as described below) may be appropriately made common to themembers of FIG. 1 by those skilled in the art.

Referring to FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes the entire IP phoneunit, 202 denotes an internal bus for transferring internal data of theIP phone unit 201, 203 denotes a CPU for controlling the IP phone unit201, 204 denotes a RAM for providing a program working area of the CPU203, 205 denotes a ROM for storing a program or table data of the CPU203, 206 denotes a network unit for exchanging data with the outside ofthe IP phone unit 201, 207 denotes an error display unit for displayingerrors, 208 denotes a partner information replacing unit for replacingstored information based on information sent from a speech communicationpartner, 209 denotes a partner information storing unit for storinginformation on phone numbers of partners of speech communicationexecuted by using the IP phone unit 201, 210 denotes an IP phoneconnection unit for transmitting/receiving an SIP message between the IPphone unit 201 and an outside SIP server or an outside IP phone unit byusing the network unit 206 to establish communication, and 211 denotesan information retrieval unit for retrieving information on a phonenumber or the like stored in the partner information storing unit 109.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a network to which the IP phone unit isconnected. As shown, IP phone units 301, 302, 303, 304 ( . . . ), and anSIP server 305 are connected to an IP network 306. The IP network 306includes public WAN such as Internet, or an IP network such as Intranetin a company.

FIG. 4 shows an example of contents stored in the partner informationstoring unit 109 of FIG. 1. The example of FIG. 4 shows two speechcommunication partners, Ichiro and Jiro, and three records regarding theSIP server.

Referring to FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes a name of a speechcommunication partner (Ichiro), 402 denotes an IP address of a host ofthe speech communication partner, and 403 denotes a URI (SIP address) ofthe speech communication partner. Similarly, reference numeral 404denotes a name of a speech communication partner (Jiro), 405 denotes anIP address thereof, and 406 denotes a URI thereof. A reference numeral407 denotes a name of an SIP server, 408 denotes an IP address of theSIP server, and 409 denotes a URI of the SIP server.

FIG. 5 shows an example of information stored in a storing unit of theIP phone unit 101. In the IP phone unit of FIG. 5, an IP address or aURI is changed because of user's (Sanshiro's) removal or the like. Forexample, the changing of the IP address or the URI is executed through apredetermined user interface which uses the operation unit 113.Referring to FIG. 5, reference numeral 501 denotes user's name(Sanshiro) of the IP phone unit stored in the IP phone user informationstoring unit 112, 502 denotes an old (before removal) IP address of theIP phone unit stored in the old information storing unit 107, 503denotes an old URI of the IP phone unit stored in the old informationstoring unit 107, 504 denotes a new (after removal) IP address stored inthe new information storing unit 105, and 505 denotes a new URI of theIP phone unit stored in the new information storing unit 105.

FIG. 6 is a sequential diagram showing a procedure of a start to an endof general IP phone communication using an SIP. The shown communicationexample is made between the IP phones of Ichiro 601 and Sanshiro 603,and a call and an incoming call are controlled by an SIP server 602. TheIP phone unit of the embodiment uses the same procedure as shown in FIG.6 for normal speech communication.

Referring to FIG. 6, first, SIP messages (INVITE) 604 and 605 aretransferred between Ichiro 601, the SIP server 602, and Sanshiro 603.During calling by the IP phone unit of Sanshiro 603, SIP messages 606 to608 (100 Trying, 180 Ringing) are transmitted to the IP phone unit ofIchiro 601. When a user responds by the IP phone unit of Sanshiro 603,SIP messages 609 and 610 (200 OK) are transmitted to the IP phone unitof Ichiro 601. When the IP phone unit of Ichiro 601 checks thosemessages, an SIP message (ACK) is transmitted to the IP phone unit ofSanshiro 603, thereby executing actual speech communication in a mediasession 612. The speech communication is finished by direct exchange ofthe SIP message 611 (BYE) to an SIP message 614 (200 OK) between userterminals.

FIG. 7 shows a structural example of the SIP message of FIG. 6.Reference numeral 701 corresponds to the SIP message 604 (INVITE), 702denotes a Contact header from among SIP headers, 703 corresponds to anSIP message 606 (100 Trying), 704 corresponds to a Contact header fromamong the SIP headers, 705 corresponds to the SIP message 609 (200 OK),706 denotes a Contact header from among the SIP headers, 707 correspondsto the SIP message 610 (200 OK), and 708 denotes a Contact header fromamong the SIP headers. As shown, the SIP message is described in a textformat compliant with RFC 822.

FIG. 8 shows a procedure of a start to an end of speech communicationdirectly executed between the IP phone units by using the SIP withoutusing the SIP server. When an IP address or a URI of a partner is known,as shown in FIG. 8, communication can be directly carried out betweenthe IP phone units without using the SIP server. The example ofcommunication of FIG. 8 is made between Ichiro (801) and Sanshiro (802),and in particular a sequence of INVITE, Ringing, OK and ACK of SIPmessages (803 to 806) is directly exchanged between the user terminals.Actual speech communication is carried out by a media session 807, andfinished by exchanging an SIP message 808 (BYE) to an SIP message 809(200 OK). Structures of those SIP messages are similar to those shown inFIG. 7. However, because of no passage through the SIP server, forexample, a header indicating passage through the SIP server (192. 100.100. 100 is an address of the SIP server: 408 of FIG. 4) as in the caseof “Vian SIP/2.0/UDP 192. 100. 100. 100: 5060” shown in FIG. 7 is notused.

FIG. 9 shows a situation of information exchanging by SIP toautomatically update a phone book according to the present invention,and FIG. 10 shows contents of an SIP message transferred as shown inFIG. 9.

The SIP message can be used not only for replacing a predeterminedrequest/response message but also for transmitting/receiving optionalinformation by using a structure of “SIP Message Body” (MESSAGE method:RFC 2543, Chapter 8).

Referring to FIG. 9, first, SIP messages 904 and 905 including theMESSAGE method are transmitted from an IP phone unit of Sanshiro 901, towhich the user has moved as described above with reference to FIG. 5, toan IP phone unit of Ichiro 903 via an SIP server 902, and SIP messages906 and 907 (200 OK) indicating acceptance are transmitted from the IPphone unit of Ichiro 903 of a reception side to the IP phone unit ofSanshiro 901.

FIG. 10 shows a structure of the SIP message of FIG. 9. AN SIP message1001 of FIG. 10 corresponds to the SIP message 904 (similar to 905except for a header indicating relaying of the SIP server), referencenumeral 1002 denotes a user information updating command (“!!!!replace-telephone-number”), 1003 denotes a name (Sanshiro), 1004 denotesan old IP address (corresponding to 502 of FIG. 5), 1005 denotes a newIP address (corresponding to 504 of FIG. 5), 1006 denotes an old URI(corresponding to 503 of FIG. 5), and 1007 denotes a new URI(corresponding to 505 of FIG. 5). By predefining a format of such aMESSAGE method for updating phone book, old and new pieces ofinformation can be transmitted/received together with the userinformation updating command (or phone book updating command) 1002 toupdate phone book data.

FIG. 11 shows structures of the SIP messages (OK) 906 and 907transferred as shown in FIG. 9. AN SIP message 1101 of FIG. 11corresponds to the SIP message 906 of FIG. 9, and an SIP message 1102corresponds to the SIP message 907. A method header of “OK” at the startand a lower CSeq header show that the transmitted MESSAGE method by theIP phone unit of Ichiro 903 has been received (or requested phone bookdata updating will be executed/has been executed).

FIG. 12 shows a correspondence between a URI and an IP address stored inthe storing unit of the SIP server 305. Reference numeral 1201 denotes aURI of Ichiro, and 1202 denotes an IP address of Ichiro. 1203 denotes aURI of Jiro, and 1204 denotes an IP address of Jiro.

Among those, pieces of user information of Ichiro and Jiro are stored inthe partner information storing unit 209 without being changed. On theother hand, information of Sanshiro stored in the partner informationstoring unit 209 is subjected to control described below and to MESSAGEmethod exchanging to be updated by the partner information replacingunit 208. In other words, an old URI 1205 of Sanshiro and an old IPaddress 1206 of Sanshiro are respectively updated to a new URI 1207 ofSanshiro and a new IP address 1208 of Sanshiro.

Next, an operation of the aforementioned configuration will be describedby referring to FIGS. 13 to 15, 17 and 18.

FIG. 13 shows a procedure of storing an IP address when a call comesfrom the IP phone unit to the IP phone unit 101 by using the SIP server.FIG. 14 shows a procedure of transmitting an own user informationupdating command to a partner stored in the partner information storingunit 109 by the IP phone unit 101. FIG. 15 shows a procedure ofreceiving the user information updating command sent from the IP phoneunit 101 to execute phone book updating processing by the IP phone unit201. The control procedures of FIGS. 13 to 15 are described in controlprogram formats of the CPU 103 or the CPU 203 and stored in the ROM 105and the ROM 205.

FIG. 16 shows a specific example of the SIP message shown in thesequence of FIG. 8. A reference numeral 1601 corresponds to the SIPmessage 803, 1602 denotes an SIP request, and 1603 corresponds to theSIP message 805.

FIG. 17 is an example of information stored in the partner informationstoring unit 109 of the IP phone unit 201 showing a state beforeupdating processing of the phone book data of this embodiment. FIG. 18is an example of information stored in the partner information storingunit 209 of the IP phone unit 201 showing a state after updatingprocessing of the phone book data of this embodiment.

First, referring to FIG. 13, the general speech communication procedureof the IP phone shown in FIG. 6 and a role of the phone book in the IPphone will be described. FIG. 13 shows a processing procedure of the IPphone unit on a call incoming side in the speech communication procedureof FIG. 6. Hereinafter, description will be made by citing the membersof the IP phone unit 101.

In step S1301 of FIG. 13, the CPU 103 of the IP phone unit 101 waits forarrival of INVITE messages (604 and 605 of FIG. 6, and 701 of FIG. 7) atthe IP phone communication unit 110 from the IP network through thenetwork unit 106.

Upon reception of the SIP messages INVITE in the step S1301, the CPU 103of the IP phone connection unit 110 detects an IP address, a user name,or the like of a partner from contents of an SIP header in step S1302.

The SIP message of an INVITE method that has reached the IP phoneconnection unit 210 of the IP phone unit 201 is structured as in thecase of the reference numeral 703 of FIG. 7. The Contact header of thereference numeral 704 contained therein is information of the partnerwho has sent the SIP message of the INVITE method. The SIP message canbe directly exchanged using the information. The CPU 103 analyzescontents of such a header to make preparation for storage in the phonebook.

In step S1303, the CPU 103 of the IP phone unit 101 transmits an SIPmessage Ringing (607 of FIG. 6) from the IP phone connection unit 110 tothe partner. Further, in step S1304, the CPU 103 of the IP phone unit101 calls the user by using the calling unit 114.

In step S1305, the CPU 103 of the IP phone unit 101 detects hooking-offof the handset by the user to respond by using the handset detectionunit 115, and returns to the step S1304 to continue calling when thereis no response.

When user's response is detected, the process moves to step S1306 toissue an SIP message OK (609 of FIG. 6) from the IP phone connectionunit 110 to the partner. Then, in step S1307, the CPU 103 of the IPphone unit 101 allows the user to execute speech communication betweeneach other by using the speech communication unit 116.

In step S1308, the CPU 103 detects arrival of an SIP message of a BYEmethod (613 of FIG. 6) at the IP phone connection unit 110.

Upon determination of the arrival of the SIP message BYE at the IP phoneconnection unit 110, the CPU 103 finishes the speech communication ofthe speech communication unit 116, and proceeds to step S1309 totransmit an SIP message OK to the partner.

The process thus far is general processing of the IP phone based on anSIP protocol. According to this embodiment, however, as the partnerinformation storing unit 109 is included to realize function of thephone book, the following processing is further carried out.

That is, in step S1310, the CPU 103 causes the user of the IP phone unit101 to decide storing of information obtained from the SIP sequence ofthe last speech communication using 2a proper user interface of theoperation unit 113, and proceeds to step S1311 in the case of storingthe information obtained from the SIP sequence.

In the step S1311, the CPU 103 causes the partner information storingunit 109 to store the IP address of the speech communication partnercontained in the Contact header 704 of the SIP protocol INVITE method703, a host name contained in another header, or the like. Examples ofinformation thus stored in the partner information storing unit 109 arepieces of information denoted by the reference numerals 401 to 406 ofFIG. 4. As described above, among those, reference numeral 401 is a nameof the partner, reference numeral 402 is an IP address detected from theContact header, and reference numeral 403 is a URI detected from a Fromheader. Reference numerals 404 to 406 can be obtained by a similarmethod for another speech communication.

As shown in FIG. 6, the situation of the IP phone communication via theSIP server is as described above. By using the information (IP addressand URI) of the speech communication partner accumulated as the phonebook data in the partner information storing unit 109, direct speechcommunication can be carried out without passing through the SIP serveras shown in FIG. 8.

In the example of FIG. 8, as described above, the call is made from theIP phone unit of Ichiro 601 to the IP phone unit of Sanshiro 603. Inthis case, a URI or the like of an INVITE method can be generated byusing the IP address 402 or the like stored in the phone book (partnerinformation storing unit 109) of the IP phone unit of Ichiro 601. Forexample, the SIP message 803 (INVITE) of FIG. 8 can be generated as inthe case of reference numeral 1601 of FIG. 16, and an IP address isdirectly described in a URI section in notation of an INVITE method1602, realizing a format in which passage through the SIP server is notnecessary. Similarly, the SIP message 805 of FIG. 8 can be generated asin the case of reference numeral 1603 of FIG. 16.

Next, updating processing of the phone book data will be described. Whenthe IP address and the URI of the IP phone unit 101 is changed becauseof user's removal or provider changing, the phone book data can beautomatically updated as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 according to thisembodiment.

Now, description will be made of an example where the IP phone unit 101(FIG. 1) transmits a user information updating command by a procedure ofFIG. 14, and the phone book data of the IP phone unit 201 (FIG. 2) isaccordingly updated automatically by a procedure of FIG. 15.

In step S1401 of FIG. 14, the CPU 103 of the IP phone unit 101 fetchesan input from the operation unit 113, determines whether an instructionhas been issued or not to send a user information updating command tothe partner stored in the partner information storing unit 109 in stepS1402, and waits for an input unless the instruction has not been issuedto send the user information updating command in the step S1401.

It is presumed that the IP phone unit 101 is an IP phone unit ofSanshiro which stores the user information 501 of FIG. 5 and, asdescribed above, owing to a removal or the like, the IP address has beenchanged from the old IP address 502 to the new IP address 504, and theURI has been changed from the old URI 1503 to the new URI 1505.

Upon an input of a transmission instruction of a user informationupdating command in step S1402, the process proceeds to step S1403 tocause the user to select a partner to execute information updating fromspeech communication partners stored in the partner information storingunit 109. In this case, for example, the user selects Ichiro, who isspecified by pieces of speech communication partner information 401,402, and 403 of FIG. 4.

Then, in step S1404, the CPU 103 generates a MESSAGE body as in the caseof the SIP message 1001 of FIG. 10 from the pieces of speechcommunication partner information 401, 402, and 403, the userinformation 501 of FIG. 5, and old and new IP addresses and URIinformation of the reference numerals 502, 503, 504, and 505, andtransmits the MESSAGE body to the selected partner (IP phone unit ofIchiro).

As described above, the SIP message 1001 uses the MESSAGE method, andcontains the user information updating command 1002 which instructsupdating of contents of the IP phone unit having the partner informationstoring unit storing the information of the IP phone unit 101 therein.

By using such a MESSAGE method, even in the middle of a media sessionsuch as a busy state of the IP phone of the partner, it is treated asanother session, and thus communication processing is possible. As theprocessing can be executed without being accompanied by an operation ofthe IP phone user such as Ringing, information is updated without anywork of the user on the user information updating command receptionside, whereby convenience of the IP phone unit user can be enhanced.

Subsequently, in step S1405, the CPU 103 determines whether a partnerstill exists or not to whom no user information updating command hasbeen sent among the speech communication partners stored in the partnerinformation storing unit 109. If a partner still exists, the processreturns to the step S1403 to repeat the selection of a transmittingtarget partner. Upon transmission of user information updating commandsto all the partners registered in the partner information storing unit109, the process is finished.

The user interface has been considered which selects the partners towhom no user information updating command has been transmitted one byone in the step S1403 among those registered in the partner informationstoring unit 109, and transmits the user information updating commandsto the selected partners. Needless to say, however, a user interface maybe configured which first selects a plurality of speech communicationpartners as partners to execute information updating, and then transmitsuser information updating commands altogether.

On the other hand, at the IP phone unit 201 that has received the userinformation updating command, updating processing of the phone book datais executed as shown in FIG. 15.

Upon reception of the user information updating command, the CPU 203 ofthe IP phone unit 201 analyzes the SIP message input from the IP phoneconnection unit 210 through the network unit 206 in step S1501 of FIG.15.

Then, in step S1502, the CPU 203 determines whether the input SIPmessage stores a MESSAGE method containing the user information updatingcommand or not. If the user information updating command is not stored,the process proceeds to step S1501 for processing of another SIP method.The processing of another SIP method is not shown here, but it ispresumed that the process proceeds to an appropriate processing from thestep S1501.

In the step S1502, upon detection of the MESSAGE method containing theuser information updating command as in the case of a character string1002 of the message body 1001 of FIG. 10, the CPU 203 proceeds to stepS1503.

In the step S1503, for example, the CPU 203 retrieves information storedin the partner information storing unit 209 from the message body inputto the IP phone connection unit 210 such as 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006, and1007 of the message body 1001 of FIG. 10 by using the informationretrieval unit 211.

The CPU 203 detects that pieces of information to be updated are relatedto 1704 and are 1705 and 1706 from the information retrieval unit 211.In step S1504, the CPU 203 replaces contents stored in the partnerinformation storing unit 209 by the partner information replacing unit208 based on information in the step S1503.

As a result of the replacing processing, the contents of the partnerinformation storing unit 209 are updated from a state shown in FIG. 17to that shown in FIG. 18. As shown in the figure, the IP address and theURI of Sanshiro are respectively updated from 1705 to 1805 and from 1706to 1806.

A transmitting/receiving sequence of the user information updatingcommand executed under the control of FIGS. 14 and 15 becomes as shownin FIG. 9. As described above, the SIP message 904 of FIG. 9 isstructured as in the case of the SIP message 1001 of FIG. 10, the SIPmessage 906 is structured as in the case of the SIP message 1101 of FIG.11, and the SIP message 907 is structured as in the case of the SIPmessage 1102.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when a user moves,transfers or changes his provider, control information regardingupdating of identification information such as a phone number, an IPaddress or a URI is transmitted to the communication partner by usingthe MESSAGE method of the SIP message, and the phone book information(identification information necessary for connection to an own apparatusstored in the partner information storing unit of the communicationpartner) of the communication partner can be automatically updatedeasily, inexpensively, quickly, and reliably.

Needless to say, depending on a reaction of the communication partnerwho returns response (OK or ACK) to a message of a specific method whichis an SIP feature, it is possible to surely confirm transmission of anupdating command to the partner. If OK is not returned, updatinginformation can be surely transmitted by retrying.

Different from the conventional method using electronic mail, theinformation updating according to the embodiment can be surely carriedout without any time lag, and executed by using the SIP which isoriginally necessary for communication. Thus, there is an advantage thatin an apparatus of specifications which does not always need electronicmail, for example, an extra communication unit fortransmitting/receiving electronic mail is not necessary.

The case where the IP phone unit having the changed user informationupdates the phone book data of another IP phone unit has mainly beendescribed. However, by communication control similar to the above, it ispossible to update a database of the user name/user information storedby the SIP server.

In the foregoing, not much consideration has been given to securityregarding updating of the phone book information (identificationinformation to establish a connection with the communication partner) orthe contents of the phone book information storing means (partnerinformation storing means), and the side that receives the updatingcommand through the SIP message unconditionally updates the phone bookinformation. Needless to say, however, a certain authenticationprocedure may be provided to update the phone book information or thecontents of the phone book information storing means more safely. Forsuch authentication, for example, a PGP public key authentication systemdescribed in Chapter 13.2 of RFC 2543 can be used. Through suchauthentication, acceptance or nonacceptance of the updating command ofthe SIP message is decided by the SIP message reception side, wherebypersonal information and privacy of the user can be surely protected.

The example where according to user's removal or provider changing, theSIP message storing the updating command of the phone book informationis transmitted based on user's manual operation has been described.However, allocation of IP addresses to the network interface (e.g.,network units 106 and 206 of FIGS. 1 and 2) can be automaticallydetected by the CPU of the IP phone unit (e.g., by using specificationsof IPv6 or the like) without any user's work. Thus, when a change of theuser information necessary for connection to an own unit of anotherapparatus is detected during apparatus transfer, the process mayautomatically proceed to transmission processing of the SIP messagestoring the updating command of the phone book information or userinterface processing for starting the transmission processing.Accordingly, user's burdensome operation is not necessary, and the phonebook information can be updated.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The case of carrying out the voice communication between thecommunication apparatus has mainly been described by using the terms of“IP phone unit”, “speech communication”, and the like. Needless to say,however, communication actually executed is not limited to voicecommunication, and the present invention can be implemented in anarbitrary communication apparatus which includes communication partnerinformation storing means capable of using SIP to establish aconnection, for storing identification information to establish aconnection with a communication partner.

The present invention can be applied not only to the stand-alonecommunication deices such as the IP phone units of FIGS. 1 and 2 butalso to a system which includes a plurality of apparatuses (e.g., hostcomputer, interface device, reader, printer, and the like).

Distribution of software for realizing the method and the program of thepresent invention can be carried out by storing it in the program memoryin advance at the time of shipping, and by using other storage mediasuch as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an opticaldisk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, anonvolatile memory card, and a ROM. Alternatively, it is possible toemploy a distribution method of introducing the software to thecommunication apparatus through the network and executing updating.

Needless to say, the software for realizing the method and the programof the present invention may be mounted not only as firmware or anapplication program but also as a part (e.g., device driver) of anoperating system (OS) operated on a computer.

Furthermore, the software for realizing the method and the program ofthe present invention may be executed by the CPU in charge of maincontrol of the operation of the entire apparatus. In addition, after thesoftware is written in a memory disposed in an function expansion boardinserted into a computer or a function expansion unit connected to thecomputer, a CPU or the like disposed in the function expansion board orthe function expansion unit executes a part or all the operation basedon an instruction of a program code thereof, thereby executing thesoftware.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2004-249412 filed Aug. 30, 2004, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein.

1. A method for updating identification information of a communicationapparatus, comprising: in a first communication apparatus, establishinga connection between a second communication apparatus and the firstcommunication apparatus by transmitting an SIP message which includesidentification information which identifies the first communicationapparatus to the second communication apparatus, wherein oldidentification information and new identification information are set tothe SIP message, and executing a speech communication processing withthe second communication apparatus; and in the second communicationapparatus, receiving the SIP message which includes the identificationinformation which identifies the first communication apparatus from thefirst communication apparatus, and establishing the connection betweenthe first communication apparatus and the second communicationapparatus, executing the speech communication processing with the firstcommunication apparatus, accepting a user designation for updating theidentification information which identifies the first communicationapparatus from a user of the second communication apparatus in responseto finishing of the speech communication processing, and updating theidentification information which identifies the first communicationapparatus, based on the new identification information included in thereceived SIP message, in a case where the user designation for updatingthe identification information is accepted.
 2. A method according toclaim 1, wherein the identification information includes an IP addressand a URI.